News and Announcements

Finding Quality Child Care

One of the most important decisions you will ever make as a parent is choosing quality child care for your child. The Department makes every effort to provide information parents need to make the best possible child care choices. The following resource may help you as you talk to and visit child care centers before deciding on the right fit for your child:

-Posted 1/7/2019-

Hurricane Michael - Emergency Order

The Department of Children and Families, Office of Child Care Regulation, has issued an Emergency Order to assist providers in reopening and relocating after Hurricane Michael. The Emergency Order allows the Department to waive certain child care standards. At a minimum all child care providers must have power and water to operate. The Emergency Order is limited to the following counties: Bay, Calhoun, Gadsden, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Liberty, Wakulla, Walton, and Washington. If you are a child care provider in an affected county, please contact your local licensing office to start the process of becoming operational.

-Posted 10/30/2018 (updated 11/5/2018)-

Updated Juvenile Record Check Process

In an effort to reduce the amount of time it takes to request certified State of Florida criminal history juvenile record checks, FDLE has launched a public portal to facilitate the electronic submission of requests for certified State of Florida criminal history record checks. Effective July 2, 2018, family child care home providers in need of juvenile checks to be reviewed by DCF will be able to submit electronic requests to FDLE via a public portal. Linked below are instructions (screenshots) of the new screening process for all individuals ages 12 through 17, residing in a family day care home.